The Equine Surgery Service acquires a stifle standing arthroscopy diagnostic unit

Last May, the Equine Surgery Service of the CHUV became the first in Canada to offer standing stifle diagnostic exams through the acquisition of a new  ©Needleview arthroscopy equipment. This will certainly have a significant impact on the procedures carried out by this service in the future. Indeed, the diagnosis of stifle lesions in horses is a challenge since they cannot be examined by CT-Scan or MRI, because of the limitations imposed by the size of these devices. Previously, radiography, ultrasound and arthroscopy under general anesthesia were employed to make a diagnosis.

The new device will allow us to perform minimally invasive and high-resolution arthroscopic examinations, under local anesthesia and standing sedation, thus reducing the risk for the patient and the cost of the intervention for the owner. This will enable specialists to quickly determine if the injury requires an invasive surgery or the use of another type of therapy, for example stem cells, PRP, or IRAP, and then specify the prognosis.

New clinical studies may also be performed by the Surgery Service, which has developed an international expertise in joint disease and imaging of the stifle.

This acquisition will have a significant impact on the training of the Surgery Service residents, who will improve their learning with the use of this ultra-modern device.

The purchase of the ©Needleview device was made possible by funding offered by the CHUV’s Fund. The Faculté de Médecine vétérinaire has created this fund to promote the acquisition of advanced equipment and support the implementation of new technologies. The donors support allows the CHUV to remain an international reference in veterinary medicine, and also improves the quality of care for animals and support the training of veterinary students.